Corporate··5 min read
What should an employer include in a relocation package?
A workable Australian relocation package usually covers removals, temporary accommodation, travel for the employee and family, and a relocation allowance. The items that most affect retention, though, are the ones often left out: structured area orientation, home search support, and help with school placement for the accompanying family.
Core financial items
- Professional removals and insurance for household goods.
- Temporary accommodation, typically two to six weeks.
- Flights or travel costs for the employee and dependants.
- A lump-sum allowance for incidentals such as utility connections and vehicle registration.
Support items that drive retention
- Area orientation so the family chooses a suburb deliberately rather than by guesswork.
- Home or rental search support, particularly in competitive catchments.
- School research and placement guidance.
- Partner and family settling-in support, the most common reason a relocation fails.
How to size the package
Compare the total package cost against the cost of a failed relocation - recruitment, lost productivity and a repeat search. Support services are typically a small fraction of that risk.
Frequently asked
- What is a typical relocation package in Australia?
- Most packages combine removals, temporary accommodation, travel and a lump-sum allowance. Senior roles more often add home search, school support and partner assistance.
- Why do employee relocations fail?
- The most common cause is the accompanying family not settling - an unsuitable suburb, no school place, or no local network - rather than issues with the role itself.
- Should employers use a relocation agent?
- A relocation agent handles the area, housing and schooling work that HR teams are rarely resourced to do, and gives the employee a single local point of contact through the move.
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